Preventing Strokes in Seniors: Vital Strategies for Reducing Risk

Strokes are devastating to older adults and their families, and they’re known as one of the most common causes of disability among the elderly. Once a stroke occurs, it can lead to a lack of independence and more severe health problems as well as death. Therefore, your family should look for ways to keep your elderly parent in good health and lower his or her odds of a stroke and other serious issues.

Encourage Maintaining a Healthy Weight

Excessive weight can strain the circulatory system, putting your loved one at higher risk for having a stroke. Therefore, you must find ways to help your parent avoid obesity and stay in good shape. Encourage eating healthy and exercising regularly.

Your loved one should avoid sugary foods and red and processed meats and watch his or her calorie intake. Encourage your loved one to work out at least two or three times per week or take up other physical activities, such as walking around the neighborhood, playing sports with family and friends, and gardening.

If your busy schedule can’t accommodate extra attention to your aging loved one’s diet and exercise routine, consider hiring a professional caregiver. Naples respite care professionals can assist seniors with a wide array of daily tasks, offering family caregivers the chance to focus on other personal responsibilities or take a break to prevent burnout. Whether it’s for a few hours a day or a few days a week, respite care is the perfect solution for family caregivers who are feeling overwhelmed.

Monitor Cholesterol Levels

Excessive cholesterol can lead to a buildup of fatty deposits in the arteries, making them narrow and stiff. A damaged artery wall will typically cause blood clots to form and travel to the brain, eventually causing a stroke. Therefore, cholesterol monitoring is essential. Some of the best ways to manage cholesterol levels include not smoking, monitoring alcohol intake, increasing physical activity, and adding heart-healthy foods to the diet.

Discourage Smoking & Drinking

Smoking generally increases blood pressure while reducing oxygen throughout the body. As a result, blood clots and plaques develop that can block blood from flowing naturally throughout the body, especially the brain. When this happens, the odds of experiencing a stroke increase.

Instead of consuming beer and hard liquor, your loved one should consider drinking red wine. If your loved one drinks beer, wine, or hard liquor, keep his or her intake to one glass per day to lower the risk of a stroke. 

Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of senior home care. You can rely on Assisting Hands Home Care Naples to provide an individualized care plan to meet your elderly loved one’s unique care needs. Our caregivers help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits, such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and we offer mentally stimulating activities that can boost cognitive health and delay the onset of dementia.

Manage Diabetes

If your parent is living with diabetes, he or she has a condition that is considered one of the top risk factors associated with strokes. Therefore, you need to help your parent manage this long-lasting health condition. Always consult with a doctor for recommendations and strategies regarding an exercise plan, eating habits, and medications. The physician will help your loved one make the proper adjustments and keep him or her in good shape.

Managing diabetes and lowering the odds of a stroke include staying hydrated. If your parent is dehydrated, his or her blood will thicken, making it more difficult to flow throughout the body. Any narrow or blocked areas in the blood vessels decrease water in the bloodstream as well, making diabetes worsen and increasing the risk of a stroke. 

Seniors can reduce their risk of strokes by making some important lifestyle changes. Maintaining a high quality of life can be challenging for some seniors, but professional caregivers can help them attain this goal. Families can trust Naples elder care experts to help their elderly loved ones focus on lifestyle choices that increase the chances of living longer and healthier lives. If you need professional care for your loved one, Assisting Hands Home Care is just a phone call away. Reach out to one of our Care Managers today at (239) 946-9268.